How to leave a job after 3 months? New job situation-advice appreciated!

[cashstasherat23]

Have found myself in a position that I have never been in before, so calling on my Mustachian think tank to help me puzzle this one out!

I am a young professional, 2.5 years out of college. In that time, I have had 3 jobs in the events field, two in the non-profit world, and my new, current position with a for-profit company in the athletic world. On paper, my new job is great. It's working on events that I truly enjoy, with frequent travel, which I have always wanted.

However, my boss is a nightmare. She is a micromanager, and has provided me with little to no guidance since I've been there, problems which seem to compound each other. I have been trying to figure things out as needed, but it seems that I can't do anything right, and each time get in trouble for making mistakes because they are not being done "the right way," even if they are things that I would have had no way of knowing. I am trying to ask questions and be proactive in paying attention to details, but it seems that I can't do anything right, and I have tried telling her several times that I feel like I have no background information to go off of and inform my decisions, but it doesn't seem to be helping.

Most have been simple issues, but because they are the only time my boss talks to me, feel much worse than they are. I also hate the feeling that I am not performing at my best, because I have never had this issue before and pride myself on being great at what I do, and each time I make a mistake, my confidence is eroded more and more, even if they are little things. I feel like I'm walking on eggshells, and dread every interaction with my boss.

I also am feeling very unfulfilled. I left a job managing 10 events a year, with my hands in every aspect of the events as go-to person, for a job managing 40 events a year and was promised much more responsibility but so far the only things that I have done are send out packages and write emails to volunteers. It is not what I envisioned at all, and although I have been told that I'll be taking on all of the events for 2016, I don't see anything happening to bring that to fruition, especially as 2016 planning should be starting now. I am bored, and feel like I am wasting my time.

The last straw is that they have some shady practices regarding time off that I am starting to struggle with. I am traveling on weekends, so am often gone from Thursday-Monday. I repeatedly asked for clarification on policies regarding comp days in my interview process, and was pushed aside. I should have listened to my gut, but I really wanted this job, so I accepted even without a concrete answer on the comp days. Now, I have been told that the policy is, I can work from home on Monday, and if I really need to, can work from home on Tuesday. Problem with this is, I am always traveling home on Monday, usually getting home in the late afternoon, which to me, is a work day. And I am made to feel guilty if I think about taking off a Tuesday, although I'd still be expected to answer emails and be there if they need me. And these days don't accumulate or carry over. So basically, working 7 days a week, and it's definitely starting to wear on me.

At this point, I don't see things getting any better, and am thinking strongly about leaving. However, I have only been here for about 3 months. Before that, I was at my second job for about a year and 4 months. Before that, I was at my first job for about 10 months. It has never been my intention to be a job hopper, but in the instance of the first job change, I left for a better opportunity and more growth. In the second, I thought I was leaving for the same thing, but this has proven to be a big mistake. However, I know it doesn't look great on paper. I am heartbroken, because I thought this would be a place for me to grow and learn for many years, but it seems that even after the extensive research and interviewing that was done, I still was not able to get a great read on my new manager.

 Now my question is, what is the best way to begin hunting for jobs again? How do I handle this situation in cover letters and on my resume? I've read conflicting things, from not mentioning this new job at all and just having a blank 3 month span on my resume to mentioning the job, but saying that it was not what was promised and that I am looking for a better fit. Not sure what the right way to go it, so would welcome some advice, preferably from HR people who may have seen resumes like this come in!

[lbmustache]

 Now my question is, what is the best way to begin hunting for jobs again? How do I handle this situation in cover letters and on my resume? I've read conflicting things, from not mentioning this new job at all and just having a blank 3 month span on my resume to mentioning the job, but saying that it was not what was promised and that I am looking for a better fit. Not sure what the right way to go it, so would welcome some advice, preferably from HR people who may have seen resumes like this come in!

Start looking for jobs now. I was in the same position as you for a long time before I got the balls to leave.

In cover letters, I made no mention of leaving my current job or anything like that. I did talk about the experience the current job provided me, but that's it. I felt like it was a given that yeah, since I'm here applying for this job, I will be leaving the other job. Obviously, I left the job up on my resume too. I didn't want there to be some odd gap on my resume (I think employment gaps are more of a hindrance unless you can offer a good explanation). I

Also said that they couldn't contact my current employer and did not put anyone down from my current company as a reference. YMMV on that one, but it ended up working out for me...

When I interviewed, I just said I was looking for something more challenging/with more responsibility, and then added something tailored to what the job was. I ended up going from a retail-oriented desk job to education, so for me it was as simple as saying, "I miss teaching." Since you are presumably staying in the same industry, you'll have to figure out how to spin your current story.

[catccc]

I was a job hopper and I have left a job after 3 months.  It was tough to explain, but after some number of years, I was able to move my resume dates to years instead of months and it is almost like it never happened.  If people ask outright if there are any positions that aren't on my resume, I'll mention it, plus some related side gigs I've done.  |

I think it is okay to tell potential employers that you are leaving because it didn't have the work life balance you believed it would.  "Unfortunately, it wasn't clear to me that the schedule would be that demanding when I accepted the position.  The work I did was exactly what I love to do, but dedicating 7 days to week solely to my career isn't something I can sustain over the long haul.  "  Very few people would find fault with that.

[Axecleaver]

I've read conflicting things, from not mentioning this new job at all and just having a blank 3 month span on my resume to mentioning the job, but saying that it was not what was promised and that I am looking for a better fit.

My advice is never leave a gap on the resume. As a hiring manager, I always looked for gaps in employment and would probe for what went wrong. I generally had low opinions of people who hoped that a problem would go away by not mentioning it. On the other hand, very few employers will think badly of you if you tell your story like you did here - focus on the schedule being 7 days a week and you should get a free pass. Almost everyone can identify with the experience of expectations and reality not aligning in a new job.

If the job hopping question comes up - it might - answer like you did here, the fact that you're trying to move up will reflect well on you, and it's very common at the beginning of your career.

Also important not to criticize your manager when you interview. I heard a lot of people make this mistake when interviewing.

[cashstasherat23]

I've read conflicting things, from not mentioning this new job at all and just having a blank 3 month span on my resume to mentioning the job, but saying that it was not what was promised and that I am looking for a better fit.

My advice is never leave a gap on the resume. As a hiring manager, I always looked for gaps in employment and would probe for what went wrong. I generally had low opinions of people who hoped that a problem would go away by not mentioning it. On the other hand, very few employers will think badly of you if you tell your story like you did here - focus on the schedule being 7 days a week and you should get a free pass. Almost everyone can identify with the experience of expectations and reality not aligning in a new job.

If the job hopping question comes up - it might - answer like you did here, the fact that you're trying to move up will reflect well on you, and it's very common at the beginning of your career.

Also important not to criticize your manager when you interview. I heard a lot of people make this mistake when interviewing.

Thanks for the replies all! Very helpful information.

I have started looking for and applying to jobs, but I guess the main part of where I'm getting stuck is, do I specifically call it out in my cover letter, or just wait until an interview to talk about it?

The other problem is that I have been given so little to do here, and have had such unclear explanations of my role (I have no goals or measures of progress, despite repeatedly asking my boss to sit down with me and review the ones that I came up with), that I don't even know if it's worth including on my resume.

[Bearded Man]

The job wasn't the right fit. No big deal. You are at the start of your career, that is how these things go sometimes.

I changed jobs 3 times in one year, and also moved 3 times in the same year. Yep, that was several years ago, but it worked out not only then but in the long run. I always lined up a nother job before quitting another one (after having learned my lesson when I was in my early twenties) and it was never an issue. In one case, the damage of the job to my mental, physical and emotional health was so bad after just three months (albeit 2.5 years of abuse before that, and countless years of BS years before that), that once I accepted an offer from another company, I immediately resigned from my old job and took the month off. I guess they still needed my skills so they hired me on as a contract consultant after that even though I left on short notice. It was a joke, everyone knew the job I was getting hired into was destined for disaster. Yet they said nothing at the time (as they later were telling me) because it was better me than them.

Positive is, I've moved around enough that I can usually spot a bad job before starting. Not always, but I see the signs usually now. Last two jobs have been 2+  years each. This is kind of the game. Find a job you like, work it as long as you like working there and it is working for you. If it stops working for you or you find a better opportunity, you move on. Repeat until FI or eligible for social security.

[Axecleaver]

do I specifically call it out in my cover letter, or just wait until an interview to talk about it?

Don't address it in the cover letter. That's your sales pitch, where you try to land an interview, not where you mitigate damage. Don't bring it up in the interview, either, but be prepared to discuss it.

The other problem is that I have been given so little to do here, and have had such unclear explanations of my role (I have no goals or measures of progress, despite repeatedly asking my boss to sit down with me and review the ones that I came up with), that I don't even know if it's worth including on my resume

Just keep it positive, describe what the role looked like when you took the job, and don't sweat it too much. Just because the boss hasn't measured you, doesn't mean that you can't include measurements of your own. Saying that you "manage 40 events per year" is fine. Even if you have only managed a handful, so far this year.

[Retire-Canada]

Keep the current job. Make the best of it. Look for allies in the organization that can help you balance out the evil-boss-from-hell. If you are feeling saucy throw some grenades back at your boss and fight for your rights. All that can happen is you get fired.

Keep a diary of all the time you have to work and officially request CTO or payment for the extra hours worked. You don't love this job so no fear of losing it and frankly you may find it's the kind of place where pushing for what you want is the way to get it. I would deal direct with HR on any CTO stuff and just let your boss know that you are doing that.

Start the job hunt and don't mention any issues at the new job until you get an interview. In the interview be honest about what's going on and why you are dissatisfied. Fucked-up-crazy-evil Bosses are not new. As long as you are a solid candidate you shouldn't have any problems because of that situation. People look for patterns of problems. A one off thing doesn't compromise your record.

[Jellyfish]

I am confused, how many jobs have you had in the 2.5 years you have been out of school?

 

I am a young professional, 2.5 years out of college. In that time, I have had 3 jobs in the events field, two in the non-profit world, and my new, current position with a for-profit company in the athletic world.

3 in events field + 2 in non-profit + current position = 6? 

If I am reading that right, that's a LOT of jobs in 2 1/2 years. I may not be reading that right because you do mention your time at various jobs later in your post...regardless you might want to suck it up for a few more months and use this as an opportunity to build your skill set in working for difficult people in difficult situations.  It's a good life skill.  Then interview for a better position when the job tenure doesn't look quite so startling on your resume.

[catccc]

I am confused, how many jobs have you had in the 2.5 years you have been out of school?

 

I am a young professional, 2.5 years out of college. In that time, I have had 3 jobs in the events field, two in the non-profit world, and my new, current position with a for-profit company in the athletic world.

3 in events field + 2 in non-profit + current position = 6? 

If I am reading that right, that's a LOT of jobs in 2 1/2 years.

I'm pretty sure the OP means 3 jobs total.  Two of which were non-profit, one of which is the for profit that is the current workplace.  that's the way I initially read it.

[surething22]

I'd suggest keeping communication with prospective employers about your current job much more positive than negative. Nobody wants to hear about how your boss/job/work-life balance sucks, especially someone looking to bring you on their team.

[catccc]

I'd suggest keeping communication with prospective employers about your current job much more positive than negative. Nobody wants to hear about how your boss/job/work-life balance sucks, especially someone looking to bring you on their team.

Of course you should keep it mostly positive, but you have to have a real reason to be looking elsewhere.  I think in OP's situation it is best to make that reason work/life balance.  It's a real issue, and it doesn't bring interpersonal skills into question like a boss issue would, or competency questions like a job issue would.